Tesco increased the price of using its electric vehicle charge points in March 2023, according to a guide to the supermarket's charging network1. The 7kW rate rose from 28p per kWh to 44p per kWh1. The increase followed the end of free charging at Tesco stores on 1 November 2022, when the company introduced a fee for all its car chargers regardless of power rating1.
Tesco operates 2,700 EV chargers across 619 stores, the guide states, with charge points typically found in the car parks of Tesco Superstores and Tesco Extra stores rather than smaller formats such as Tesco Express1. All are Pod chargers, previously branded Pod Point, and the network dates from a 2019 rollout with Volkswagen and Pod across 200 sites1. Tesco says its earlier free charging initiatives contributed to 86 million miles of free electric driving1.
Current rates by charger type are set out as follows1:
| Charger type | Cost per kWh |
|---|---|
| 7kW fast | 44p |
| 22kW fast | 49p |
| 50kW rapid | 62p |
| 75kW rapid | 69p |
Tesco chargers are open 24 hours, and the guide states that a three-hour free parking policy generally applies, with fines for exceeding it, though terms vary by store1. Payment can be made through the Pod app or website, and contactless cards or RFID cards can be used to start and stop sessions under plug and charge rules1. Clubcard holders collect one point for every pound spent on charging1.
Why it matters for households
Public charging at a supermarket sits outside the home energy bill, so a rise of this kind does not change what a household pays for electricity at home. It does change the cost of running an electric car for drivers who rely on public points rather than a driveway. At 44p per kWh, a driver using a 7kW Tesco charger pays more per unit than the typical domestic rate, and the gap widens at the faster 50kW and 75kW chargers, where the rate reaches 62p and 69p respectively1. Households without off-street parking have no route to the lower domestic rate, which is one reason the difference between home and public charging matters, including the VAT treatment of each.
For a household with a home charger, the comparison is between the domestic unit rate and these public rates, and the gap is the value of being able to charge at home. For those weighing a switch to electric, the figures show that the cost of a mile depends heavily on where the car is charged. The public charging price data page tracks how network rates compare, and public EV charging explains the rules on access and payment. Households on a dedicated electric vehicle tariff can shift charging to off-peak hours, and EV charging bolt-on rates cover add-ons that some suppliers offer alongside them.
What happens next
No further Tesco charging price changes have been reported. The guide gives no date for any future revision of the rates1.
Sources1 cited
- Tesco EV Charger Guide: How Much, Where & The Perks (2026), wepoweryourcar.com